Electrolytic timing device and release actuator



Sept. 23, 1969 a. N. ROSENBERG ELECTROLYTIC TIMING DEVICE AND RELEASE ACTUATOR Filed Sept. 29, 1967 United States Patent 3,469,045 ELECTROLYTIC TIMING DEVICE AND RELEASE ACTUATOR Edgar N. Rosenberg, 6914 Mission Gorge Road, San Diego, Calif. 92127 Filed Sept. 29, 1967, Ser. No. 671,892 Int. Cl. H0111 29/08, 15/20 US. Cl. 200-61.05 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to a device for actuating a control preferably in deep water, after a predetermined time. The principle components of the device are a cylindrically shaped bellows, a pair of electrodes, disposed within the bellows and an electrolytic solution contained within the bellows electrically communicating with the electrodes. By a suitable choice of materials the bellows can be constructed to exhibit the characteristics of a voltaic cell or those attendant the electrode-position process. In either case, gases produced by the chemical changes occurring when a current is passed through an electrolyte are contained within the bellows and cause the bellow to expand. This expansion when guided by guide rods or channels is used to actuate a switch, explosive bolt, or similar control. Because the bellow is filled with the electrolyte, the actuator is not sensitive to pressure changes and is therefore ideal for use at great depths in ocean.

The invention herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION With the present increased research and interest in deep submergence activities great numbers of instrumentation packages have been deposited on the ocean floor to monitor the environmental phenomena over a period of time. The usual method of placing such packages involves attaching a float and weight and sinking the combination to the ocean floor. At a later predetermined time the package and float are released from the weight and buoyed to the surface for eventual recovery by research personnel. An obstacle to such recovery is that actuators which separate the packages from the weight fail to opearte and the instrument laden packages never reach the surface. Because of the great depths at which conventional timed actuators must operate, crushing pressures and water seepage tend to render the actuator inoperative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to providing a timing device for actuating a control which includes a cylindrically shaped bellows filled with an electrolytic solution into which at least two electrodes are disposed. An active or a passive conductive means, depending on the material used in the electrodes and the electrolytic solution, is shorted across external projections of the electrodes to create an electrolytic exchange within the bellows. A control unit, in the nature of a switch, explosive bolt, or similar release device, is actuated through external guides and linkage to release a weighted package of sensors from a mooring cable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for actuating a control after a pre-set time delay.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a timed actuating device which is self-contained and requires no external source of power.

3,469,045 Patented Sept. 23, 1969 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the timed actuating device in an operative relationship.

FIG. 2 is a side view partially in section of the invention prior to actuation.

FIG. 3 is a side view partially in perspective showing the invention actuated after a predetermined time delay.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a Weight 10 has been placed on the ocean floor to hold a package of electronic components 11 at a predetermined depth by a cable 10a. The electronic components are buoyed up from the ocean floor by a float 12 secured to the electronic package by a line 12a. The float and electronic package are of sufficient strength to withstand the pressure of the ocean of depths, hundreds and even thousands of feet beneath the surface, and the floats of suflicient buoyancy to bring the electronic package back up to the surface once severed from the weight.

A mounting bracket 15 firmly affixed to the package mounts a release control 17 for securing the electronic to the cable. The release control can be in the form of a triggered explosive bolt, a self contained solenoid-battery combination, or a similar device which securely engages the cable. An obvious requirement of such a control is that it has a means 17a for effecting a disengagement of the cable once the means itself has been displaced.

An electrolytic timed actuator 20 is secured to the bracket through an end portion brace 21. A pair of guide bars 22 mounted on the brace or mounted at end points on the mounting bracket longitudinally extend the length of the timed actuator. A cylindrically shaped bellows 25, constructed of a suitable non-corrosive, flexible metal or plastic compound is securely attached in a sealed relationship onto the end brace. Sealed onto the opposite end of the bellows a slotted end plate 24 is disposed to engage the guide bars to permit only an axial motion when the bellows are flexed. A pair of electrodes 26 and 27 are disposed within the bellows, each being formed of a material having the properties to induce a current flow therebetween when immersed in a suitable electrolytic solution or when a suflicient potential is applied. An electrolyte, either strong or weak depending on the mode of operation of the electrolytic timed actuator, entirely fills the bellows to prevent collapse of the bellows when submerged to great depths.

On the opposite side of the end plate an actuation linkage 29 extends away from the bellows to operatively contact means 17a for enabling the release of mooring cable 10a.

A conductive means 30 in the form of the shorting conductor, as shown, or a battery or similar source of electromotive force, not shown, is selectively operatively connected across electrodes 26 and 27 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). If the conductive means is a joining conductor, the electrolyte and electrodes within the bellows are chosen to exhibit the characteristics of a voltaic cell for proper operation. On the other hand, choosing an electrolyte and electrodes similar to those used in an electroplating process requires a source of electromotive force that induces a current exchange between the two electrodes. Inherent in the current transfer process within the voltaic cell or during an electroplating process is an ionic exchange between the electrodes which, due to the nature of the electrodes and the electrolyte, results in the creation of gases from the electrolyte at either or both electrodes. It is upon the creation of such gases that operation of invention depends.

The rate of longitudinal displacement of the bellows due to the formation of gases within the bellows is a predetermined factor dependent on materials used and ambient pressures. If, for example, a certain combination of electrodes and electrolyte is used to extend the bellows to the length required for actuation of a control in x number of hours at one atmosphere of pressure, then the same combination of elements will cause extension to the critical actuation length in a period of time equal to the product of the x number of hours times the number of atmospheres of surrounding pressure. That is to say, an electrolytic timed actuator constructed of materials causing an extension to the critical actuation length within one hour at sea level, extends to the critical actuation length in four hours if immersed in the ocean to a depth of approximately 110 feet, four atmospheres of pressure.

Due to the presence of an electrolyte within the bellows preventing the compression, deformation, or crushing of the actuator, the actuator is structurally uneffected by extreme pressures and depths. The bellows, guides and other associated elements are constructed of materials which resist the corrosive effect of the salt water or surrounding environment and, of course, of the internally housed electrolyte.

Operatively employing the invention involves shorting the external leads of the electrodes or connecting a source of electromotive force between them to induce a current flow between the electrodes and the resultant formation of gases within the bellows. The gases cause a controlled expansion of the bellows with the consequent actuation of the control means to effect the release of the electronic package. The time interval between the closing of the contacts or the attaching of a source of electromotive force and the actuation of the control means is a predetermined function readily ascertainable and easily duplicated in conventional mass construction techniques.

It is here to be understood that while there has been described herein in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications, omissions, and refinements, which depart from the illustrated embodiment may be adopted without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is c a ms isr .l l

1. A timing device for actuating a control comprising:

a resilient means formed to enclose an expansible chamber;

linkage means carried on said resilient means operatively disposed with said control; an anode element 'and a cathode element mounted in said chamber, each having lead portions extending outside of said resilient means; w

an electrolyte filling insaid chamber in electrical communication with both elements said elements oriented for permitting ionic transfer therebetween and formation of gasesthereat; and

conductive means disposed to selectively, externally interconnect both said lead portions for providing a current path to insure said ionic transfer producing said formation of said gases for solely longitudinally displacing said leakage means for actuating said control.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which said resilient means is formed as a cylindrically shaped bellows adapted to axially expand during said controlled expan- 510m.

3. .A device according to claim 2 in which said conductive means is a source of electromotive force for inducing a current flow from said anode to said cathode and producing said gases.

4. A device according to claim 2 in which said conductive means is a-shorting conductor and said anode element, cathode element and electrolyte are electrolytically coacting materials for producing a eletcromotive force to induce current flow and to produce said gases.

5. A device according to claim 2 further including:

guide means carried on said resilient means for orienting said controlled expansion to actuate said control.

References Cited Hardesty ZOO-61.05

5 H. O. JONES, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 20033 

